Category: Charitable

I was SO ready for this race. Being my second marathon, I felt a sense of calm about me. It was like I could relax more, enjoy it more because I knew what to expect. We’ve been training for six months, six long hard months that took us right through the brutal Texas summer. I’ve pushed the stroller over more miles than I care to add up in my head. I’ve busted my ass to raise my fundraising goal to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was going to come to a celebratory close when I crossed that finish line today, and I was so excited about that.

About 7:30 last night I began feeling sick to my stomach and experienced a really painful headache. Chalking it up to nerves and exhaustion, I headed back to our hotel room to get in bed as early as possible. By the time I made it up the elevator and through the door, I was feeling pretty damn terrible. I laid in bed, writhing… and burping…oh yes, those burps you get before you throw up. I am not one of those people who easily blows chunks. I HATE throwing up, and will will my body to do anything in it’s power to prevent it, but even that wasn’t enough. By the time midnight rolled around, I had puked what I believe to be the entire contents of my guts out. I don’t recall a time ever in my life when I puked so much. Even Scott, who so kindly held back my hair, marveled about the sheer volume.

My coach told us before we left that 80% of your performance on race day is determined by nutrition. Well, considering all of the “nutrition” I’d so strategically taken in over the last 36 hours was now making it’s way down the sewer pipes, and considering I couldn’t so much as keep a sip of Gatorade down, I had to count myself out of the race. Talk about a major disappointment.

Scott wasn’t feeling too hot, either, when the alarm went off this morning, but he decided to give it a try anyway. I knew it was bad when he came back to the hotel after only running 8 miles. This guy went into the marathon trying to run a 3 hour and 40 minute race, and to quit after not even completing the half? Well, that wasn’t a good sign. Even worse? He proceeded to puke his guts out as soon as he got into the room.

So here we are, laying separately in each of the double beds, watching Wizard Of Oz, and lamenting over the way the weekend ended up. No finish line for us, no medals, no after party. Yes, I still raised a considerable amount for a tremendous cause, and we’ve benefited from the training and the friendships we’ve made. It’s just disappointing to not be with those teammates who I’ve trained with for so long to celebrate our accomplishment.

We’re not quite sure what made us sick. We thought it was maybe food poisoning from a Mexican place on the River Walk where we had lunch yesterday, but now I’m wondering if it’s some form of the flu. We’ve both had the aches and a fever off and on all day, but the upset tummies are gone… I hope. I was finally able to get some chicken soup down and would really hate to see it come back up. It was f-ing $9 for a cup. Damn hotel prices.

The silver lining in all of this, if there is one, is that my mom is watching Kendall this weekend. I can NOT imagine both of us being so sick back home. I have no idea what we would do with him. I guess if we HAVE to be sick, this is the best place for that to happen. We’ve got separate beds, which helps us not disturb each other in our own misery, room service, endless clean towels, and Pay Per View… and the boy is with his Nana. Hallelujah!

Kendall is about 18.5 months old, and I really hope we aren’t contagious when we pick him up tomorrow

FYI- I’m still raising $$ for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!! I’m about $125 short of my goal and would really LOVE to reach it by Wednesday. I’m hosting a drawing for prizes then, and anyone who donates $5 or more to my LLS account will automatically be entered to win. There are a TON of great prizes (over 20). Most recent, Hot Mama Designs jewelry donated $100 jewelry credit for one lucky winner. Check out more here, or just click here to donate. If I can get just 25 more readers to donate $5, I’ll reach my goal! Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who’ve already supported me and made a donation to this or any other fundraiser I’ve held.